Therapeutic sleepwear with removable padding

ABSTRACT

Sleepwear pants may include a padding sleeve that extends down the length of a leg of the pants and a padded implement, such as a pillow, that is removably insertable into the padding sleeve. The padding sleeve and pillow may be sized such that, when worn, the sleepwear pants provide padding between the wearer&#39;s thighs, knees, and calves to maintain the wearer&#39;s spine and hips in a comfortable position during sleep.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to provisional application No.62/615,676, filed Jan. 10, 2018, which application is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to sleepwear, including therapeuticsleepwear including removable padding.

BACKGROUND

Good sleeping posture can, among other things, place the spine in properposition and relieve stress and tension on the back. Many individualswill sleep with a pillow between their legs. However, a pillow placedbetween the legs can slip during the night and thus may not adequatelysupport a user's spine and hips throughout a night.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and rear views of an example embodiment ofsleepwear pants with removable padding removed.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are various views of the example embodiment ofsleepwear pants of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the removable padding insertedand worn by a user.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of sleepwear pantswith removable padding inserted.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of an enclosure of a paddingsleeve of the sleepwear pants of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an example embodiment of a sleepwear leg sleevewith removable padding removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Known means for straightening an individual's spine and hips during thenight may be improved upon by providing a novel sleepwear apparatusthat, when worn, may straighten an individual's spine and/or hips whilethe individual sleeps on the individual's side. Embodiments of such anapparatus may take the form of pants. Other embodiments of such anapparatus may take the form of a leg sleeve (e.g., without a seat,crotch, or second leg portion). In both types of embodiments, theapparatus may include a removable pillow or other padded implementdisposed so as to securely remain between the wearer's legs while thewearer sleeps.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and rear views, respectively, of an exampleembodiment of sleepwear pants 10. The sleepwear pants may include awaist, seat, crotch, and first and second leg portions 12, 14 which mayinclude respective medial portions 12 _(M), 14 _(M) and lateral portions12 _(L), 14L and respective leg receptacles for receiving a user's leg.The first leg portion 12 may include or may be coupled to a pillowreceptacle 16 (which may also be referred to as a pillow sleeve or apadding sleeve) positioned on or coupled to the medial portion 12 _(M).The pillow receptacle 16 may be disposed on and affixed to an outersurface of the first leg portion 12, as in the illustrated embodiment,such that a pillow may be inserted into and removed from the pillowreceptacle 16 from the exterior of the first leg portion 12. In anotherembodiment, the pillow receptacle 16 may be disposed on an inner surfaceof the first leg portion 12, such that a pillow may be inserted into andremoved from the pillow receptacle 16 from the interior of the first legportion 12. The pillow receptacle 16 may be attached to the first legportion 12 at the inseam of the first leg portion 12, in an embodiment.The pants 10 may comprise any appropriate construction and material,such as, for example only, cotton, polyester, nylon, wool, silk, ormicrofiber, or a synthetic fiber such as elastane (e.g., SPANDEX orLYCRA), or rayon, or a combination of two or more such materials. Thematerial and construction of the pants 10 may enable the pants to bebreathable, hypoallergenic, and/or moisture-wicking, in someembodiments. The first and/or second leg portions 12, 14 may beconstructed so as to remain loose about the wearer's legs, in someembodiments. In other embodiments, the first and/or second leg portions12, 14 may be constructed so as to elastically secure to the wearer'slegs. The pants 10 may be made with dimensions appropriate for a givenwearer (e.g., an appropriate inseam, waist, etc.).

The pillow receptacle 16 may comprise one or more pieces of fabric orother material that is sewn onto or otherwise coupled to the first legportion 12. The pillow receptacle 16 may be sized and shaped to receiveand secure a padded implement, such as a pillow, between the wearer'slegs while the pants 10 are worn and the wearer is on his or her side.An example of such wear is illustrated in FIGS. 3-6, which are variousviews of the sleepwear pants 10, worn by a user, with a pillow insertedinto the pillow receptacle 16. The pillow receptacle 16 may comprise acontinuous receptacle comprising a single continuous interior thatextends from a thigh portion of the first leg portion 12 to a calfportion or ankle portion of the first leg portion 12. As a result, asingle pillow may be placed in the pillow receptacle 16, and the pillowmay extend from the wearer's thigh to the user's ankle or calf and maysupport the user's knee and part of the user's thigh and part or all ofthe user's calf when the pants 10 are worn and the wearer lays on thewearer's side. The pillow receptacle may extend straight down the lengthof the leg portion 12, in an embodiment (e.g., parallel to the inseam).The pillow receptacle 16 may be coupled to the first leg portion 12substantially at a single seam line along its length, in an embodiment,such that the pillow receptacle may pivot around the seam line foradjustment by the wearer of the pants. In another embodiment, the pillowreceptacle may be coupled to the first leg portion 12 at two separatedseam lines, such that the width of the pillow receptacle 16 is at leastpartially defined by the distance between the seam lines.

In some embodiments, the pillow receptacle 16 may have a length(parallel to a direction in which a wearer inserts a leg into the legportion 12) of approximately 12-to-30 inches, a width (perpendicular tothe length and parallel to the plane of the page of FIGS. 1 and 2) ofapproximately 3-to-14 inches, and a depth (perpendicular to the lengthand the width) of approximately 3-to-9 inches. In some embodiments, thepillow receptacle 16 may have a length of approximately 15-to-27 inches,a width of approximately 3-to-14 inches, and a depth of approximately3-to-9 inches. In some embodiments, the pillow receptacle 16 may have alength of approximately 18-to-25 inches, a width of approximately3-to-14 inches, and a depth of approximately 3-to-9 inches. In someembodiments, the pillow receptacle 16 may have a length of approximately20-to-23 inches, a width of approximately 6 inches, and a depth ofapproximately 3 inches. In some embodiments, the pillow receptacle 16may have a length of approximately 17 inches, 20 inches, or 23 inches, awidth of approximately 6 inches, and a depth of approximately 3 inches.

In an embodiment, the sleepwear pants 10, and specifically the first legportion 12, may have an inseam length of between 28 and 40 inches, andthe pillow receptacle 16 may have a length that is at least 40% of theinseam length. In an embodiment, the sleepwear pants 10, andspecifically the first leg portion 12, may have an inseam length ofbetween 30 and 36 inches, and the pillow receptacle 16 may have a lengththat is at least 50% of the inseam length. In an embodiment, thesleepwear pants 10, and specifically the first leg portion 12, may havean inseam length of between 30 and 36 inches, and the pillow receptacle16 may have a length that is at least 60% of the inseam length. In anembodiment, the sleepwear pants 10, and specifically the first legportion 10, may have an inseam length of between 17 and 23 inches, andthe pillow receptacle 16 may have a length that is at least 80% of theinseam length.

In an embodiment, the pillow receptacle 16 may be or may comprise aflexible structure having an inner circumference (e.g., in a planeperpendicular to the length of the pillow receptacle) when the pillowreceptacle 16 is shaped (e.g., by a pillow inside of the receptacle 16).The inner circumference of the pillow receptacle 16 may be approximately20-30 inches, in an embodiment. The circumference may extendsubstantially the entire length of the pillow receptacle 16.

The pillow receptacle 16 may comprise any appropriate construction andmaterial, such as, for example only, cotton, polyester, nylon, wool,silk, or microfiber, or a synthetic fiber such as elastane (e.g.,SPANDEX or LYCRA) or rayon, or a combination of two or more suchmaterials. The material and construction of the pillow receptacle mayenable the pillow receptacle to be breathable, hypoallergenic, and/ormoisture-wicking, in some embodiments. The pillow receptacle maycomprise the materials, or combination of materials, as the first and/orsecond leg portions 12, 14, in an embodiment.

The pillow receptacle 16 may define an aperture or opening 18 throughwhich a pillow may be inserted into and removed from the pillowreceptacle 16. In some embodiments, the pillow receptacle may haveopenings at both ends of its length, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. Inother embodiments, the pillow receptacle may be enclosed at one end ofits length. For example, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodimentof sleepwear pants 10′ that includes a pillow receptacle 16 that isenclosed at the lower end of its length. Other than as noted otherwise,the sleepwear pants 10′ include the features and functionality of thesleepwear pants 10.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the sleepwearpants 10′ of FIG. 7. The pillow receptacle 16 and/or first leg portion12 of sleepwear pants 10′ may include a button and button hole, snapfastener 20, hook-and-loop fastener, or other appropriate fastener thatis manipulable by the wearer for securing the opening 18 in a closedposition to secure a pillow within the pillow receptacle 16. The firstleg portion 12 may also include a flap 22 or other structure forcovering the opening 18.

In some embodiments, the pillow receptacle 16 may be permanentlyenclosed at an end opposite the opening 18, as in FIG. 7. In otherembodiments, the pillow receptacle 16 may include two opposed aperturesor openings, such that a user can insert a pillow into one opening andinsert his or her hand through the opposed opening to pull the pillowinto the pillow receptacle, as in FIGS. 1-6. In such an embodiment, oneor both openings may include fasteners for closing the opening to securea pillow within the pillow receptacle. In some embodiments, includingthe illustrated embodiments, one or more openings 18 may be disposedparallel to the width and/or depth of the pillow receptacle, such that auser inserts a pillow into the pillow receptacle in a direction parallelto the direction in which a user would insert the user's leg into thefirst leg portion. In other embodiments, one or more openings 18 may bedisposed parallel to the length of the pillow receptacle, such that auser inserts a pillow into the pillow receptacle in a directionperpendicular to the direction in which a user would insert the user'sleg into the first leg portion.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a pillow 24 that may find use with thesleepwear pants 10, 10′. The pillow 24 may be sized and shaped so as tobe secured within the pillow receptacle 16. In some embodiments, thepillow 24 may comprise a padding made from a silica gel, memory foam,bamboo stuffing, cotton, fleece (e.g., non-woven fleece), straw, down,polyester, polyester fiber, other fiber, latex, and/or medical foam. Insome embodiments, the pillow 24 may comprise a shell having a fabricexterior within which the padding is enclosed. In some embodiments, thepillow may be or may include an air-inflatable shell.

In some embodiments, the pillow 24 may have a rounded construction, suchthat the pillow 24 has a circular or otherwise rounded cross-sectiontaken across its width (like the pillow disposed in the pillowreceptacle 16 of the pants 10′ (see FIG. 7)). In other embodiments, thepillow 24 may have a rectangular construction, such that the pillow 24has a rectangular cross-section taken across its width. In someembodiments, the pillow 24 may include two portions, with a seam betweenthe two portions, which seam may extend parallel to the length of thepillow 24, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In other embodiments, thepillow 24 may have a single portion, like the pillow disposed in thepillow receptacle 16 in FIG. 7. The pillow may comprise amachine-washable construction, in embodiments.

In some embodiments, the pillow 24 may have a length of approximately12-to-30 inches, a width of approximately 3-to-14 inches, and a depth ofapproximately 3-to-9 inches. In an embodiment, a single portion pillowmay have a width of approximately 3 inches, and a double portion pillow,like the pillow in FIGS. 1 and 2, may have a width of approximately 6inches, with each portion having a width of approximately 3 inches. Insome embodiments, the pillow 24 may have a length of approximately15-to-27 inches, a width of approximately 3-to-14 inches, and a depth ofapproximately 3-to-9 inches. In some embodiments, the pillow 24 may havea length of approximately 17-to-23 inches, a width of approximately3-to-6 inches, and a depth of approximately 3-to-6 inches. In someembodiments, the pillow 24 may have a length of approximately 20-to-23inches, a width of approximately 3 inches, and a depth of approximately3 inches. In an embodiment, the pillow 24 may have a length ofapproximately 17, 20, or 23 inches. The pillow 24 may be tapered acrossits width at one or both ends, in an embodiment, which may assist withthigh and/or calf comfort, for example.

It should be noted that the combinations of dimensions provided hereinfor aspects of the pillow receptacle 16 and the pillow 24 are examplesonly, and that different combinations of the dimensions disclosedherein, or other dimensions, may find use with legwear according to thepresent disclosure for various wearers.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a sleepwear leg sleeve 30 that includes asingle leg portion 12 and a pillow receptacle 16. The sleepwear legsleeve 30 (and receptacle 16 thereof) may comprise substantially thesame features and characteristics as those described above with respectto the first leg portion 12 and the pillow receptacle 10 of thesleepwear pants of FIG. 1, except as described differently below.

In some embodiments, the sleepwear leg sleeve 30 may be made of aflexible material, such as elastane, such that the sleeve elasticallysecures to a wearer's leg. The leg sleeve 30 may have a length that isgreater than the length of the pillow receptacle 16, in an embodiment.

An individual may wear the sleepwear pants 10, 10′ or the sleepwearsleeve 30 and, before sleeping, may insert a pillow 24 into the pillowreceptacle 16 of the sleepwear pants 10, 10′ or sleepwear sleeve 30. Theindividual may then sleep on his or her side, and the sleepwear pants10, 10′ or sleepwear leg sleeve 30 may position the pillow 24 betweenthe wearer's legs. Because the sleepwear pants 10, 10′ or the sleepwearsleeve 30 would be on the wearer, the pillow 24 would move less than afree pillow that a user has placed between his or her legs, andtherefore the sleepwear pants 10, 10′ or the sleepwear sleeve 30improves upon a simple pillow placed between the legs. The pillow 24 maybe of such a length so as to be disposed between the user's knees andportions of the user's thighs and calves, thereby providing improvedsupport relative to known pillow-supporting sleepwear. Furthermore,because the pillow receptacle 16 is integrated into the sleepwear pants10, 10′ and the sleepwear sleeve 30, the sleepwear pants 10, 10′ and thesleepwear sleeve 30 may provide improved comfort relative topillow-attachment apparatus that are not pant-or-sleeve based. Stillfurther, because only a single pillow may be used, the sleepwear pants10, 10′ and sleepwear sleeve 30 may provide increased ease of use andmaintenance relative to many known pillow-attachment apparatus. Stillfurther, because the pillow may be removable from the pants 10, 10′ andsleeve 30, a wearer may wear the pants 10, 10′ or sleeve 30 comfortablywithout the pillow inserted before sleeping, thus providing improved useover pillow-attachment apparatus with a permanently-affixed pillow.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presentembodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishingits attendant advantages. Further, references throughout thespecification to “the invention” are nonlimiting, and it should be notedthat claim limitations presented herein are not meant to describe theinvention as a whole. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosedherein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which isnot specifically disclosed herein.

While this disclosure has described certain embodiments, it will beunderstood that the claims are not intended to be limited to theseembodiments except as explicitly recited in the claims. On the contrary,the instant disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modificationsand equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope ofthe disclosure. Furthermore, in the detailed description of the presentdisclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it willbe obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that apparatus consistentwith this disclosure may be practiced without these specific details.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clothing apparatus comprising: a leg sleeveinto which a user may insert the user's leg, the leg sleeve comprisingan outer surface; a padding sleeve, affixed to a surface of a medialportion of the leg sleeve, configured to secure within the paddingsleeve a padded implement, wherein the padding sleeve extends from theuser's thigh to the user's calf when the leg sleeve is worn by the user;and a padded implement, configured to be removably secured within thepadding sleeve, that extends from the user's thigh to the user's calfwhen the leg sleeve is placed on the user's leg.
 2. The clothingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the padded implement has a length ofbetween twelve inches and thirty inches.
 3. The clothing apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the padded implement has a length of between fifteeninches and twenty-seven inches.
 4. The clothing apparatus of claim 1,wherein the padded implement has a length of between eighteen inches andtwenty-five inches.
 5. The clothing apparatus of claim 1, wherein thepadded implement has a length of between twenty inches and twenty-threeinches.
 6. The clothing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the padding sleevedefines an aperture through which the padded implement may be insertedinto and removed from the padding sleeve by a user in a directionparallel to a direction in which a user inserts the user's leg into theleg sleeve.
 7. The clothing apparatus of claim 6, further comprising afastener, manipulable by a wearer of the clothing apparatus, for closingthe aperture.
 8. The clothing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apertureis a first aperture, wherein the padding sleeve further defines a secondaperture, opposite the first aperture.
 9. The clothing apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a second leg sleeve and a seat portion,wherein the first and second leg portions are affixed to and continuouswith the seat portion, wherein the first and second leg portions defineopposed medial portions, wherein the padding sleeve is affixed to themedial portion of the first leg portion.
 10. The clothing apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the second leg sleeve does not have a padding sleeve.11. The clothing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the padded implementcomprises two parallel padded portions separated by a seam, wherein theseam is substantially parallel to a direction in which a user insertsthe user's leg into the leg sleeve when the padded implement is disposedin the padding sleeve.
 12. The clothing apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe padding sleeve has a width of between three and five inches.
 13. Theclothing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the padding sleeve has a depth ofbetween three and five inches.
 14. The clothing apparatus of claim 1,wherein the padded implement comprises padding, the padding comprisingsilica gel, memory foam, or bamboo stuffing disposed in a fabric shell.15. The clothing implement of claim 1, wherein the padded implementcomprises an inflatable fabric shell.
 16. The clothing implement ofclaim 1, wherein the leg receptacle comprises cotton, polyester, nylon,microfiber, or elastane.